The East African Oryx, also known as the Beisa Oryx or sometimes called Gemsbok is a species of antelope from Eastern and Southern Africa. They have a grey coat with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black. There are also black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose, from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. The mane is small and chestnut-colored. The ringed horns are thin and straight, they are found on both sexes.
Description[]
The East African Oryx stands just over a metre at the shoulder and weighs around 175 lb (79 kg). It has a grey coat with a white underside, separated from the grey by a stripe of black, with black stripes where the head attaches to the neck, along the nose, and from the eye to the mouth and on the forehead. The mane is small and chestnut-coloured; the ringed horns are thin and straight. They are found on both sexes and typically measure 75–80 cm (30–31 in). Comparably, the Gemsbok has an entirely black tail, a black patch at the base of the tail, and more black on the legs (including a patch on the hindlegs) and lower flanks. The smaller Arabian Oryx is overall whiter with largely dark legs.
Habits and Lifestyle[]
East African Oryx are social antelope. They gather in herds of 5 to 40 animals, often with females moving at the front and a large male guarding from the rear. Some older males are solitary. Solitary males are often accompanied for brief periods by breeding-condition females. Beisa Oryx or Gemsboks are diurnal creatures. Leaving under conditions of extreme heat, these animals are able to store water by raising their body temperatures in order to avoid perspiration. When feeling danger East African Oryxes usually flee, however, when cornered they defend themselves with the help of their spear-like horns, sometimes causing fatal injuries.
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